EBERHARD MANUF"a CO. fl. ELBEL.
991
EBERHARD MANUF'G CO. v. ELBEL et at (Circuit Court, N. D. Ohio, E. D. August 8, 1893.) No. 5,009. PATIUfTB-ANTICrPATION-HARNESS TRIMMINGS. , ..
The Zeller patent, No. 201,791, for an improvement In harness trimmings, Is not anticipated by the Hinman patent of February 25, 1868, or the Zeller patent of September 15, 1874.
Suit. by the Eberhard Manufacturing Company against Elbel &i Co. Decree for complainant Thos.W. Bakewell and E. A. Angell, for complainant. M. D. Leggett and Chas. R. MIller, for respondents. RICKS, District Judge. The bill is filed for infringement of letters patent No. 207,791, granted on September 3,1879, to Melancthon E. Zeller, for an improvement in harness trimmings. The complainant has given to the public a very simple device, which combines several elements that are all calculated to make it acceptable and useful. '1.'hough it presents no single element evincing great invention, it combines several new features, which, taken together, make it a successful device, which has rapidly won its place among articles of useful manufacture. It is easily and cheaply made, so designed and constructed as to be easily put together. Each part performs the function claimed for it, and when put into use it is superior to any other article made or designed for the same purpose. It can be made and sold separately, can be readily attached to any kind of harness, and it fulfills the uses for which it was designed. In it the patentee . developed as to its leading features tliat "last step" which completes invention, and makes the device a success. This is particularly striking in comparing the device of the patent in suit with the device of the same patentee in the patent designated "the Zeller patent of 1874." That device was practically inoperative, both because of the expense and difficulties connected with its manufacture, and more particularly because the falling hook, which was designed to receive the check rein, had such a long vertical end projecting through the elevated plate or passage that when the strain on the check rein was lessened so as to permit the hook to slip back, or to force it back towards or over the crupper loop, the ring, instead of falling easily and surely, would catch and remain rigid. One of the principal features claimed for the hook so constructed was that it would readily fall and prevent its destruction in case the horse or mule should fall or roll with the harness on it; so that for the chief admntage claimed it was inoperative. The chief defense against this patent is that it was anticipated by the manufacture and sale of various articles of common use by nine prior United States patents. 'I.'be two chiefly relied upon as showing an anticipation are those of J. W. Hinman, February 25, 1868, and of M. E. Zeller, of September 15, 1874, just referred to. The Hinman patent, while it involves the drop hook and drop ring in a device intended for an entirely different use, did not disclose those uses in a way to make them any more conspicuous
992'
, FEDERALBEPORTER,
vol. 63.
than had been done in other devices in which they had been previously employed, or than would, suggest such use in a drop hook such: as used in complainaJit'spatent. ' I do not, therefore, think that the Hinman patent was an For the reasons stated before, I do not think the earlier' Zeller patent is an anticipation. It, i!!lIIltimated inprief of defendant's, ,counsel that the claim in the earlier patent, abandoned by viz.: "A harness finding consisting of the plate, A, upon which is formed the elevation, a, having an eye or passage, A' to receiV'e, a terret or ring, a hook, or other subiltantiallyas and for the purpose set forth," -is substantially, the same as the claims of the later patent, and should estop him from setting up.thesame in his present suit. The essence of the later invention is that the parts are cast separately, and so made as to be easily and cheaply made and put together, and,when so combined, to furnish',&' stronger and more satisfactory product. All this is accomplished. And there is J10 ground for estoppel on the ,plea that the,former claim abandoned is the same device. The defendant has seen fit to use any of the devices setout in thenine patents It has, however, patterned the article it manufactures exactly from that of complainant. It has,done thi's after, correspondence,and with full information as to complainant's cln:ims. The hook is a clear infringement of the first claim.s of the patent, and the terret is of the second claim. The to a decree sustaining its patent, finding infringement, and for an accounting.
LEVY v. DATTLEBAUM et al. (Oircuit Court, S. D. New York. 1. 2.
October 4, 1894.)
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PATENTS-ISSUANCE TO JOINT INVENTORS.
Issuance of a patent to "T. and L., of the firm of T. & L.," puts the legal title in the parties jointly, and not in the firm.
SAME......REQUISITES OF ASSIGNMENT.
Where the leglll title to a patent used in the business of a firm is in the partners jointly, an assignment by one partner to the other of all goods and machinery, 'etc., "and all other property whatever belonging to said firm, and all his rights, title, and interest therein," does not convey the legal title to the patent. An instrument assigning a patent should distinctly describe, the patent, though' description by name, number, and date is not indispensable.
S.
SAME-PRACTICAL CONSTRUCTION OF ALLEGED ASSIGNMENT.
One of two joint patentees, who were partners in business, gave to t'le other, on the dissolution of the firm, a writing which the latter claimed operated as an assignment of the patent It appeared, however, that after the execution of that instrument each gave the other a license under the patent. Hela, that this was a practical construction of the prior instrument, and implied that each still owned an interest in the patent.
This was a bill by Charles M. man for infringement of a patent. H. A. West, for complainant. :Arthur Murphy, for defendants.
against Dattlebaum & Fried-